aussiechick2006

I don't know about others but everything with ours was all sorted through the shipping company, they sorted it all. It was a lot easier dealing with one person and only one payment.

Yeah, £4k seems to have been the ball park for quite a few years (well from what I've seen and our experience). Obviously it also depends on your final destination. Hopefully someone out there offers a nice (if there is such a thing!) figure.

Ours was for just under half the 20ft container. When you get the quotes do confirm it is in fact to Sale. We had about 7 quotes and I was amazed that after looking at them carefully they had actually put in Melbourne - despite being told our destination was nowhere near! i had a few expensive items of jewellery as well as irreplaceable items. I took it all in my hand luggage. There was no way I was risking taking it any other way.

I haven't posted on here in years, although this caught my eye as location wise we were similar. We we only shipped just under half a 20ft container from Oxfordshire (near Whitney) to a small town near Traralgon (about 45mins before Sale). It it was back in May 2012 and cost £2k (not inc insurance). That was door to door inc packing in the UK. They did say that only using a part container is the more expensive way. But as we didn't want to bring everything it worked out great for us. We used Robinsons. A family business from Oxfordshire and couldn't fault them at all. We got them down a little in price and did insurance through them which was 2%. Over this end they used Grace and couldn't fault them either. Nothing was damaged and only took 6wks door to door as they managed to get it on a ship straight away.

Hey guys, I did ours myself. Personally I couldn't justify spending so much on an agent when we'd still have to find all of the information anyway. I filled everything in and kept getting my husband sign his life away which felt like every few minutes at some points, lol Ours was a straight forward case (married (in Aus), children, together over 10yrs and so on). But I still had to answer the same questions as everyone else and at the end of the day our case took the same as everyone elses. Good luck with it all (and make sure you have spare printer ink!) AC ps. it's not actually that bad

My husbands medical results got sent to Sydney by mistake. It's no problem at all, I explained this to our CO, she looked on the system as thy a linked (or something like that) and got the details straight away. We only found out this happened after a phone call to where my husband had his examination. I was worried that this may cause a delay but it's no problem. Hope that helps. AC Forgot to say it was sent as a paper copy.

Ours is going with groupage. £2050 for 400 cuft to Melbourne. Mind you ours is a little extra as its being delivered 100 miles from port. Quotes are normally within a 30 mile radius. Hope this helps a little. AC

We're only taking our washing machine. As we're only taking 400cuft it works out about £70. Where as a new one the same in Oz was around $1200! AC

Well we only went and received my husbands Subclass 100 today, woo hoo!!!! So I'm one very happy AussieChick :0) Does'nt change too much, the girls and I are still off next Sunday and he will follow us out when he's finished at work. But as it was me who completed all of the forms etc on my own I'm feeling a strong sense of achievement, lol... And it's one less thing to worry about. AC

Hi everyone, I know how horrible the wait is, checking emails on a far too regular basis! So thought I'd tell you our timeline for my husbands application. Front loaded app sent 17/11/11 CO confirmation (SV) 22/11/11 Visa Subclass 100 granted today 24/04/12 A rough idea of our situation. Been together 11yrs, married 9yrs and have 2 children. Good luck to everyone. AC

I know I've been extra quiet on here but I've been soooo busy. Tomorrows the day for the removal company, woo hoo.... Even though I'm knackered do you think I can get to sleep...... Nope! Can't believe this is our last night in our house, very strange feeling! 2wks Sunday till the mighty flight. Wish my husband was coming its us, so much for a relaxing flight with my gorgeous monkeys :0) Still I think I'd rather do it alone with them than go here he's off o with work, lol. AC

I can see a little bit of where your coming from. Although when i moved to the UK I knew it would get cold. But I wasn't expecting it to get to -18 and feel like winter was at least 6mths of the year. Yep, I'd even been over before I moved to live here. But that month didn't prepare me for over 10yrs of English weather! Maybe it was because I was just in holiday mode and didn't fully notice. AC

Oh fab, thanks for the info :0) Hopefully we'll be ok. Everything is done now ready for the removals in the morning. Very exciting! AC

Aww bless.... My mum's only ever met our youngest twice and our eldest 4 times. She is over the moon that were moving back!!! Unfortunately she doesn't have the money to be able to visit. She's already been buying some of the girls favourite things in to stock up the cupboard. It's lovely seeing her so excited! We're not sure how long we'll be living with her. It will depend on when my husband can actually make it over and when he can find a job. But at least we can have a girlie time at my mums and she can get to know the girls. 2weeks on Sunday till the flight and I can't wait! AC

We're using Robinson's Relocation. We're heading back home (literally!) to stay with my mum in the house i grew up in, about 2hrs out of Melbourne. I've been in the UK about 10 and a half years now. Think I've done my stint, lol... So the girls (3 & 5) and I are going to stay with my mum until my husband comes out. He's off out the country with work before he finishes. I'm so excited and can't wait. Hopefully a few trips to Melbourne catching up with friends! Peso how long have you been over for? It's lovely to hear from people who are enjoying it. Even for me who's Australian it's still a big move. AC

Thanks ever so much. Our removals are on Friday, nothing like leaving it till the last minute!!! I gave mine a very diluted wipe over. Not sure my husband is going to find cleaning his bike so easy tonight :-/ AC

Hello everyone, Just wondering if Jeyes is actually ok on shoes? So far I've done a few of the kids pairs. But a little worried to start on mine, lol. My house officially STINKS of the stuff!!! Also, do I need to give them a proper scrub till they're spotless or is a bit of a scrub and wipe over with diluted Jeyes ok? There's a few marks and grass stains that no matter how hard I scrub just aren't coming off. Will that be ok? AC

Yay.... Fantastic news. Hope the whole Weazel family have a fantastic time over in Oz. Make sure you tell us all about it when your back. AC

Thank-you :0) Its all starting to feel quite real. 3 weeks today we'll be all checked in and I'll be tring to entertain the girls. Aka trying to wear them out in the hope of some sleep! AC

Hi there, Yep I know the area. In fact I'm a born and bred 'Valley' girl. I grew up in a small town about 10 mins out of T'gon. Yes it's not 'the big smoke' although sometimes that was quite nice. Your only ever a train ride or drive away. The town has everything that you need. My girls are looking forward to going to the miniature stream train ride at the local park (once a month). There's the cinema at Morwell, located at Midvalley shopping centre as well as tenpin bowling, outdoor go karts etc. There's a roller skating rink at Moe (living wise Morwell and Moe don't have as good a reputation as T'gon). There's lots of sports going on. Little Athletics, swimming, tennis, Soccer, football, baseball just to name a few. There's the rainforest just outside T'gon (Tara Bulganin national park). Fab for a picnic/day out. To be honest you can make it what you want. Yes it's not like living on the coast outside a big city. But it's all down to you and what you make it. Theres lots of schools both state/private if you have children. Feel free to PM me and I'll help as much as I can. In fact I'm heading back the on the 6th of May so can fill you in even more. I have a 3 & 5yr old who are both very excited. Also with regards to the APM (paper mill) it totally depends on the wind for if you can smell it or not. And after time you don't even notice it. Where my mum lives you can hear the hum on a still night. Which actually becomes quite relaxing on a hot night whilst sitting outside. AC

Hi Kelly, I can't really offer advice on a stop over as I always just want to get there. But have a look at opodo.co.uk that's who I've booked our one way tickets with and they were cheaper than going direct with Singapore. We've used them before and it was all very easy. And their customer services were really good with any queries. May end up being no different but every pound counts. AC

I think there's been a few in the past Hoff. They like it under/around boat ramps. Fingers crossed they keep away from my toes. And the kids/husbands of course ;0) AC

Woo hoo.... Massive congrats Chardy. That's fantastic news! AC

Woo hoo....... 30 sleeps till my girlies and I are on the plane to go home. Just a shame my husband may still be in the UK till September (fingers crossed it will only be till July). Soooo, is there anyone else flying to Melbourne on the 6th of May? AC

Lovely to hear that many (yes I know, not all of you) have also had good experiences. I fully understand that this is not always the case, I've come across people that I'd happily not come in contact with again! This is by no means having a 'UK v Aus' debate on who is more friendly or does/doesn't do certain things. It was purely that I had a 'happy moment' yesterday and wanted to share. I hope I never become a person who slates the UK or puts a slight dampner on it when I talk about it. It has been very kind to us, we've been very lucky never had to worry about work etc. And we've met some truly amazing people who will be our lifelong friends. Although for us as a family it's time to move back home. And no doubt there will be things that we'll miss and look forward to seeing them again when we're over visiting family. Thanks for your replies though, it's always lovely to hear that others have had nice experiences, be it in the UK or Australia. AC xx